Skip to content

Chris Pickens

Partner

Connect with Chris Pickens:

Chris is a Partner in our Construction and Engineering group, helping clients procure and deliver major infrastructure projects and programs of work.

Whether you are procuring a one-off infrastructure project or a multi-year program, he can support you regarding procurement strategies, contracting models and allocation of legal risks.

This includes advising on all the main industry-standard form contracts such as the New Engineering Contract (NEC4), International Federation of Construction Engineers (FIDIC), Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) and Infrastructure and Construction Contracts (ICC). He also helps secure long-term relationships between client and supply chain governed by framework and term service agreements.

A large part of Chris' role is supporting clients in the development and implementation of integrated delivery teams and collaborative contracting models including alliancing and enterprises based on "Project 13" principles initiated by the Infrastructure Client Group (ICG) and Institution of Civil Engineers.

He works for clients across a number of sectors with particularly strong experience in the rail, water, gas, electricity and wider energy and utility sectors.

Whatever the nature of the job his focus is on working with his clients to prepare agreements that strike an appropriate balance for them between protecting their interests and the placing of risk with the party best placed to manage it.

In his spare time he enjoys fell running, coaching youth football and attempting to learn Spanish.

Chris' recent client experience includes:

  • acting on the development and implementation of contracts to establish a fully integrated multi-party delivery team responsible for delivering a portfolio of renewal works across a regional rail network. These contracts will be worth over £4.5 billion and include sophisticated risk-sharing principles and incentive mechanism
  • advising on the strategy, drafting and negotiation of four incentivized £600 million construction management contracts and associated works delivery framework agreements for a multi-year gas main replacement program. These contracts are based on the New Engineering Contract (NEC4) suite of contracts with bespoke provisions to provide for the development of annual work stacks and associated commercial incentive model across multiple years
  • representing two national infrastructure organizations on contracts for consenting, environmental assessment and front-end engineering design (FEED) regarding separate carbon capture and hydrogen pipeline projects. These projects are for state-of-the-art new energy infrastructure
  • creating a new set of template contracts based on the New Engineering Contract (NEC4) suite with railway specific provisions for use on the renewal and enhancement of a major rail network. These templates will be used for the delivery of a multi-billion pound program of works 
  • Named as a Legal 500 Leading Individual 2022
  • Diploma in Legal Practice, Oxford Institute of Legal Practice, 1998-1999
  • BA (Hons) Law, Oxford University, 1995-1998
Chris Pickens

Partner

Chris Pickens

Partner

Email